Economic Downturn Linked to an Increase in Child Abuse

Economic Downturn Linked to Increase in Child Abuse?


March 2009: In Boston, safety advocates warn cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome are rising and pleaded with lawmakers not to cut funding for the education and prevention of this deadly form of child abuse.

Dr. Deborah Eappen, whose son, Matthew, was killed by the British au pair Louise Woodward 10 years ago, said she was concerned the current economic downturn will burden families and cause stress between parents and children, leading to domestic violence. “Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome is the way to go,” said Eappen. “It's like an immunization against child abuse.”

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, who prosecuted the high-profile Louise Woodward train, said, “It’s a decade after Matty Eappen was killed -- shaken and slammed to death -- and we’re still here talking about shaken baby syndrome and shaken impact syndrome as being a prominent and prevalent form of child abuse.”

Apparently, cases of the brain injury known as Shaken Baby Syndrome have increased in the past few months, a spike that Massachusett's child abuse specialists say may be linked to families' depressed economic situation.

Research has shown a relationship between increased family stress and domestic abuse where the more stress a family experiences, the more vulnerable the children are to incidents of abuse.

Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is violently shaken, causing the brain to hit against the sides of their skull, causing neurological injury that can lead to life-long mental and physical disabilities or death.

You can view Dr. Eappen and District Attorney, Gerry Leone, plead with Massachusett's lawmakers not to cut the state's $350,000 budget alloted for Shaken Child Syndrome: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/18969408/index.html.

Caution: If your infant is cared by an au pair, who is typically young, often
inexperienced, make certain you educate her about Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Tell her,"Never Shake the Baby!" under any circumstances. Tell her what can happen - she may not know she can cause neurological damage to the baby or even death.

Summer Programs - Time to Register!

It is time to start thinking about hosting an au pair for the summer! If you don't have an au pair now, but you need help with the children during the long summer months, you can host an au pair for up to 4 months.

If you are busy working or have several children who will be home for the summer, you can save money by hosting an au pair who can handle multiple children and arrange activities with all of them in place of expensive camps or different summer programs for each child.

The summer programs offer full-time, live-in childcare through the months for those months you need it most. The program is perfect for families with children over the age of 2, who are ready to accept a young international visitor into their home for up to 4 months. The Summer program is only open to families with children over the age of two.

Summer au pairs undergo the same screening as year-long au pairs and attend the same au pair orientation and training program. The au pairs receive the same weekly stipend as full-year au pairs, plus pro-rated vacation days and pro-rated educational allowance (they are required to take one, 3 credit course during the time they are in the U.S.).

From the list of the 12 designated au pair agencies (supervised by the U.S. Department of State) only two au pair agencies have summer programs and they both have deadlines that you must meet in order to receive an au pair in the summer - the time is getting closer to the cut-off dates and if you want that au pair by June or July, you should check out one of these two agencies and register soon!



1. Au Pair USA (www.aupairusa.org) Phone number: 1-800-AU-PAIRS

Summer Au Pair Program Deadlines and Fees* for 2009

Choose your au pair by the following date and they will arrive in NYC on the second date shown:

Match by April 20: Receive an au pair by: June 1 or June 5

Match by April 27: Receive an au pair by: June 8 or June 12

Match by May 4: Receive an au pair by: June 15 or June 19

Summer au pairs must leave their host family by September 15th.

Program Fees: $2960

Application Fee: $300 (No discounts at this time)



2. goAupair (www.goAupair.com) Phone: 1-888-AUPAIR1

Summer Au Pair Program Deadlines and Fees* for 2009

Match by April 10: Receive an au pair starting May 15.
Program runs through September 15 2009.

Summer au pairs must leave their host family by September 15th.

Program Fees: $2795

Special Discount: They are waiving the $250 application fee

Summer Au Pair Program Deadlines for 2009

Choose your au pair by: April 20, April 27, May 4

They will arrive in New York City: June 1, June 8, June 15

Summer au pairs must leave their host family by September 15th and must leave the United States by October 15th if they chose to travel before returning home.

*Fees do not include weekly stipend or educational allowance ($250)